KP Govt Accused of Relaxing Laws Which Lead to Peshawar School Roof Collapse

The former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is under scrutiny for allegedly loosening private school regulations to shield political allies, following the tragic school roof collapse in Peshawar. Section 22(4) of the provincial law, introduced on June 9, 2017, allowed authorities to close or seal schools for violations, such as operating without registration.

However, an amendment on June 23, 2017, reportedly eliminated this provision, confining enforcement to fines. Sources claim the modification was requested by then-assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and others with private educational interests, benefiting entities connected to Qaiser, Mushtaq Ghani, and others. The allegations surfaced after the October 15 collapse at Al-Khair Education Center, which left 30 children and a female teacher dead, with 52 others injured.

Police have arrested school owner Khan Muhammad over construction defects. The FIR alleges the management disregarded warnings about deteriorating walls and roofs. Khan Muhammad cited rainfall, while education officials described the building as decrepit. A provincial inquiry is investigating the incident, and authorities have pledged to inspect all public and private schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.